Workpiece Stocker Pullout Restriction for Robot-Operator Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
In automated transport systems, the movements of workpieces between material and product storage and machine tools are hindered by operations performed by both robots and human operators, leading to issues like erroneous workpiece placement and extraction, as existing systems lack effective mechanisms to prevent interference between robotic and human operations on workpiece stockers.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece stocker with a pullout restriction mechanism that allows the workpiece setting member to be pulled out from both sides along a predetermined path, controlled by a pullout control unit to prevent interference, ensuring the robot can perform operations without human intervention until the vehicle arrives at the designated position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If both robot and operator perform work on the workpiece stocker, then operational flexibility is improved, but operation interference occurs leading to hindered robotic operations
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit receives the job instruction before the robot executes work, and in advance controls the pullout restriction mechanism to restrict the workpiece setting member's pullout. This preliminary restriction prevents operator interference during robotic operations while maintaining operational flexibility through controlled access.
Solution Approach 2:
The pullout restriction mechanism dynamically changes the accessibility of the workpiece setting member based on operational phase. During robotic work execution, pullout is restricted; during operator loading/unloading phases, pullout is permitted. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction between flexibility and reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the workpiece setting member can be pulled out freely from both sides, then operator access is improved, but workpiece extraction errors occur when robot operations are intended
Solution Approach 1:
The pullout restriction mechanism applies preliminary anti-action by preventing the workpiece setting member from being pulled out during periods when robotic work is scheduled. This counter-measure prevents operators from accidentally removing workpieces that the robot needs to extract, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while still allowing operator access during appropriate phases.
3Reliability
If the robot waits for operator completion before working, then operation interference is avoided, but productivity decreases due to waiting time
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit receives job instructions and uses this feedback to proactively control the pullout restriction mechanism before the robot begins work. This feedback-driven approach eliminates waiting time by pre-establishing the restricted state, ensuring both reliable coordination and high productivity through continuous operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A workpiece stocker houses a workpiece setting member such that the workpiece setting member is able to be pulled out from a housed position to a vehicle working position side and an opposite vehicle working position side. An automated transport system identifies a target workpiece stocker and a target workpiece setting member for an operation to be performed by a robot mounted on an automated guided vehicle and drives a pullout restriction mechanism unit to prevent the workpiece setting member from being pulled out to the opposite vehicle working position side or being pulled out to the vehicle working position side before the automated guided vehicle arrives at a working position and the robot pulls out the workpiece setting member to the vehicle working position side after the identification.